The endless rivalry between T-Mobile and Sprint has once again taken on a different level. Using its MetroPCS brand, T-Mobile has launched a new promotion to attract more customers to make the switch to their prepaid wireless network.

Announced earlier today, T-Mobile's prepaid wireless business is attracting Sprint, Virgin Mobile or Boost Mobile users to port in their numbers to MetroPCS. In doing so, these users will be able to take advantage from 20% up to 50% off on Sprint's Family Share Pack pricing. The discount however, depends on the number of lines you decide to switch and by location since there are local taxes and fees to take into consideration.

In addition to the discount, users who decide to switch may get their hands on a free MetroPCS LTE smartphone worth $50. Or they can opt to go for a $50 rebate on another smartphone offered by the company. Those who add more than two lines can get a mail-in rebate instead of an instant rebate.

This promotion continues from the intense holiday season that led to US carriers be aggressive in pursuing customers from their competitors. During the holiday season, networks such as Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile all offered different discounts as a way of trying to outbeat each other. T-Mobile, however, has set its eyes on the customers of Sprint and really wants to do its best to win them over. During Black Friday, T-Mo offered $200 to Sprint users who would switch to their service along with a promotion to take care of early termination fees. After the busy holiday season, Verizon launched its own ETF payoff promotion.

Through its new promotion announced today, MetroPCS hopes it could do a better job of attracting and bringing in ex-Sprint users. They particularly address those who have regretted switching to Sprint by offering the discounts.

The $30 and $40 plans have 1 GB more data than regular customers get. But I agree this promotion isn't as great as T_mobile makes it out to be. They are comparing apples to oranges, Sprint postpaid vs MetroPCS, comparing with Boost would be more realistic.

I'll pay the extra $5 and no taxes to be on AT&T's much better, much more reliable network with Cricket. Call me in ten years when T-MO and Sprint have an ACTUAL network that spans the entire United States, then we'll talk...

Obviously you guys need to take the new T-Mobile #BallBusterChallenge. You might win a $100 prepaid credit card if you're BS is right. http://www.tmonews.com/2016/01/t-mobile-launches-ballbusterchallenge-in-response-to-verizon-balls-ad/ If not, you get to pose with a funny sign and will finally be up to data about Tmo coverage.

That Ballbuster challenge (named so in keeping with Legere's juvenile attitude) looks to be a real hoot. From the discussion, it seems to be rigged to be allowed in just the few areas where T-Mobile will win.

Maybe I'm looking at the wrong maps, but when I compare the Metro map to other T-Mo MVNOs I see big differences in some areas. For example, look at the border area between RI and CT, due west of Warwick RI on the Ultra coverage map. There is a big hole along the border in an area that is solid purple on Metro. Or compare the region where the northern border of MA hits the eastern border of NY. The Ting map seems closer to Metro and is easier to read than both of them!

I did this exact thing just now with the prepaid map as per Dennis instructions:

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-coverage

The switcheroo is present here, as well. Zoomed out to show the entire country, states such as North Dakota, Wisconsin, and Indiana show great coverage: at least 95%.

If you zoom in, though. North Dakota shows extremely poor coverage, Wisconsin has poor coverage also, while only Indiana still retains good coverage.

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So, at a casual glance, T-Mobile (from their own map) has at least twice as much coverage as it actually does. You have to drill down to see the difference, and something a lot more accurate happens at the micro level.

T-Mobile's maps have been that way for at least 5 years. Zoomed out roaming is the same color as native coverage. Zoomed in roaming is a different color (currently gray). Yes it's misleading, but once you know you have to zoom in it's no big deal.

*sigh* More coverage war posts... Seriously, why is it so hard for some people to understand that not everyone is best served with the same company? For some people, Sprint and/or T-Mobile are the best choice for them personally; for others, it's AT&T and/or Verizon. Not working for you personally is not the same as not working for anyone else in the country at all. Every company shows their current coverage maps (I will add that none of the big four companies will have a map that is 100% accurate). If the deal is good and the phone/device would work well where you need it, then more power to you. Regardless of who you choose, you're a good consumer if you go with what works for you.

FYI I was trying to determine what the actual coverage might be in places I live, work, and travel. It is unfortunate that coverage maps tend to be so inaccurate. I don't know a single person using T-Mo or a T-Mo MVNO, so it is hard to determine if Metro or another MVNO could work for me.

Still not a good deal for those who BYOD and want to use as a hotspot from time to time. BYOD NEVER WORKS WITH HOTSPOT FEATURE WITH METRO PCS. They suck you into there cheap slow mo phones. They lost me as a long time customer because of this.

This is another Legere scam. Prepaid is normally cheaper because there is no device subsidy and generally have limited or no roaming. Sprint could pull the same promotion allowing Virgin and Boost to target T-Mobile customers.

The most offensive part is Sprint customers are not getting a special price. MetroPCS is gouging them with the same inflated prices they charge everyone.

For example, Cricket offers 5 unlimited lines with 12.5 gb of LTE for $100 per month on ATT. Metro's 4 lines with 4 gb is rather anemic in comparison.